I've asked a few of them, Speedbrain and the riders are contracted to BMW Motorad through 2014. They plan to release the TE449RR, or whatever it will end up being called, as a homologated race bike for public sale similar to the 450 Rally Replica. The plan is to rebrand the bike a BMW since that is really what it started out as anyway.

Beyond 2014, who knows. That interview and BMW's presser sure make it sound as if BMW wanted out of the hardcore dirt market so what would be the purpose of continuing with a Dakar team? My expectation is that they will hastily rebrand the bike as BMW for the remainder of 2013 and for Dakar 2014 with a Speedbrain massaged version of the Husky 450 (which essentially was the BMW/Kymco 450) and when contracts are up, Speedbrain either continues on their own with the bike (since they control most of the engineering data rights) a la Bordone-Ferrari or they link up with another manufacturer. Beyond contractual obligations, I don't see BMW continuing along that path. What would they have to gain?

My expectation is that they will hastily rebrand the bike as BMW for the remainder of 2013 and for Dakar 2014 with a Speedbrain massaged version of the Husky 450 (which essentially was the BMW/Kymco 450) and when contracts are up, Speedbrain either continues on their own with the bike (since they control most of the engineering data rights) a la Bordone-Ferrari or they link up with another manufacturer. Beyond contractual obligations, I don't see BMW continuing along that path. What would they have to gain?

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+1

maybe Speedbrain by KYMCO...??? What a spectacular way for an Asian marque to break into the game... :huh

they could piggyback/synergise the thing off the CCM/Kymco project perhaps?

Nieuwsmotor: Why Husqvarna when, with Husaberg, you already have a similar marque?

Stefan Pierer: We think that with Husqvarna, theres a specific niche to tackle. With this brand, we want to focus on competing with Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki. Wed like to move the brand to selling 10,000 units per year, then continue watching. For that, Husqvarna needs to go back to its roots, its strayed too far.

The brand has a wonderful history, but a completely wrong model lineup and is on completely the wrong track. The dealer network was not ready to sell two-cylinder street models.

We will work with Husqvarna to go back to its origins. Well soon be back in motocross and then in supermoto, both sports in which Husqvarna previously dominated. Within the next year, we will make an appropriate motorcycle developed with the specifications and character Husqvarna needs.

So at first I thought that Peirer would leave KTM and resurrect Husky, seems that was wrong and KTM are indeed buying the Swedish brand. Did I hear someone say homogenization of offroad bikes?
Bummer.

And of course that leaves SpeedBrain out in the cold, it sounds like Peirer wants Husky to focus on MX and supermoto :huh

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Actually I read this as Off-Road, not just MX. The Dakar is on a lot of OUR minds, but not nesc. the general public, so his comments might have reflected that. Perhaps Husky has never been 'the' title contender in Dakar, but it's always been off road and I have to guess he's reflecting on this.

As BMW 'can't honor' their obligations, SpeedBrain contracts could be 'adjusted' like so many contracts I've seen. Though I suspect they'll keep working with the 449 for the next couple years whether it stays Husky or BMW. If the engineering rights are really theirs, it could be interesting to see what they did as an independent too...

As for Husaberg, it was sad to see the homologation, but they needed something to stay alive. The way Pierer talks, I can't see that he wants to turn Husky into another 'Berg. From the sound of the actual money being moved around, he's in charge, and KTM will be involved, but they are keeping things seperate. More like a Toyota/Yamaha motor technology collaboration in the end perhaps?

fwiw. I'd say the Speedbrain style chassis (that is rear main tank, front header tank, slim ergos and linkage suspension) and a KTM450RR engine would be an excellent combo for the 'new' Dakar, especially at the Factory sharp end?

I can't help thinking that this move represents consolidation of the various off road brands and may ultimately lead to a reduction in the diversity of manufacturers competing in events like the Dakar. As a neutral fan this would make things less interesting to me. Surely if Pierer maintains his links with KTM/Husa then we aren't going to be seeing any factory or semi-factory Husqvarna effort in Rally Raid in a few years time?

I can't help thinking that this move represents consolidation of the various off road brands and may ultimately lead to a reduction in the diversity of manufacturers competing in events like the Dakar. As a neutral fan this would make things less interesting to me. Surely if Pierer maintains his links with KTM/Husa then we aren't going to be seeing any factory or semi-factory Husqvarna effort in Rally Raid in a few years time?

After all the crashes in the Dakar rally has Annie cobbled together  and come back. But störtdykningarna among the dunes has not gone unnoticed. An hour before the start of the Swedish Rally dropped out one shoulder dislocated. '

 I'm waiting for surgery for it there, and I managed to get the shaft in position again and was able to start,

Yes - I think it has a lot of potential! - well, with the TE449 modified version of that engine at least - I know BMW/Speedbrain struggled in the Dakar with the original G450X version cooking it's clutch and stuff like that...

LA PAZ, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- Bolivia's President Evo Morales Wednesday said his country "is close" to be included in the 2014 Dakar Rally, due to the negotiations held with organizers of the international motoring event.
"We are close to achieve the goal, due to we have held negotiations for two or three years. My government will continue negotiating, with the participation of our institutions and experts in the motoring issue to guarantee this international event," said Morales during a public event.

Before the beginning of the 2013 Dakar Rally Jan. 5, Bolivia was informed that to be part of the 2014 edition, the country needs the support of Peru and Argentina, besides investing some four million U.S. dollars for the organization.

At the beginning of January, Minister of the Presidency Juan Ramon Quintana and Culture Minister Pablo Groux said they began the negotiations in Lima, Peru, with the representatives of Amaury Sport Organization (ASO), the rally's organizer.

About the negotiations, Morales said that according to the last meeting held by Groux and Quintana with the organizers,"they have advanced a lot."

Morales asked all the government's institutions and authorities to be prepared to contribute in the possible development of the rally in Bolivia.

On the other hand, Quintana said Dakar Rally is an open door so that Bolivia can show the world its tourism capacity and its current economic growth.

Quintana said Bolivia has the conditions to be part of the international motoring competence and that it's essential to position Bolivia as a country brand in the world context and the rally is the door for this tourism goal.

The minister added that Bolivia's participation in Dakar Rally will be useful to promote extraordinary tourist sites, such as Salar de Uyuni, the world's largest salt flat, as well as the Bolivian Amazonian and tropical regions, among others.